Jordan Affidavit Attestation & Legalization

Affidavits and Sworn Declarations for Jordan

Jordanian authorities often ask for facts to be confirmed under oath when no official certificate covers them. A U.S. company bidding on a government tender may need to declare that it is solvent and not debarred; an exporter registering a food product may need to declare its ingredients or the absence of pork; a Jordanian-American marrying in Amman may need to state that they are free to marry. Each of these is an affidavit signed before a U.S. notary, which Jordan accepts only after authentication and Embassy of Jordan legalization.

Business declarations

Jordan’s government procurement bodies, ministries and state-owned companies regularly require bidders to provide sworn declarations, for example on ownership, absence of conflicts of interest, non-bankruptcy, and the accuracy of submitted documents. The Companies Control Department may request declarations when a foreign company registers a branch, and the Jordan Food and Drug Administration (JFDA) may ask for manufacturer declarations as part of product registration. Use the exact wording supplied by the tender or the authority; a self-drafted version that omits a required statement is a frequent reason for rejection.

Personal affidavits

Individuals use affidavits in Jordan for marriage files before Sharia or church courts, to explain differences in the spelling of names between U.S. and Jordanian documents, to support residence applications for family members, and to replace lost documents. Jordanian courts usually want the affidavit supported by official records where available, such as a divorce decree or birth certificate, so plan to legalize those at the same time.

How it should be prepared

The person making the statement signs in front of the notary, who completes the jurat on the same page. Company affidavits should state the signer’s title and authority. Jordanian officials read the document in Arabic, so a bilingual version is helpful; otherwise a sworn translation is made in Jordan after legalization. The signer’s name must be printed clearly beneath the signature.

Route to the Embassy of Jordan

Jordan does not accept apostilles. After notarization, the affidavit is authenticated by the Secretary of State and the U.S. Department of State, then legalized by the Embassy of Jordan in Washington, D.C. The request is registered and paid on the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs e-portal, the embassy requires an extra copy of each document, and processing takes about five working days. Business affidavits are ordered under Case 1 and personal affidavits under Case 3.